Part wolf, or not?

Our new addition, "Chief" (we're back to his original name now) was described as a German Shepherd / Husky mix by none other than the head of the state Humane Society. To me, he looks more Akita than husky, since huskies seem to have a very distinct face mask. I've had neighbors and passers-by say he appears to be at least part wolf, with one lady advising me he is definitely so after I said he's Akita/Shepherd. Not that it matters much to me, I'll treat him the same whether he's a Pomeranian or a Great Dane. But wolfy looks aren't always the safest thing to have in this state (Idaho) if you've followed the news here this year.

1. I don't think he looks much a husky, either--the G. Shepherd in him comes through too strongly...

though I'd not rule it out from a picture. I've seen huskies that have had the predominant brown markings that are coming through on this guy. But, the German Shepherd in him clearly dominates--that's a good thing because I do not think he looks wolf-hybrid... and being peripherally involved with the wolf-hybrid sanctuary at the center of recent fire news near Ft. Collins, I have a bit of experience with them.

11. I'm not seeing any Akita resemblance

If he's got any it's very minute. Shape, size and proportion of everything just isn't Akita at all in this dog. I don't think Malamute either. The gene for the very thick long coat is really strong, so if he's got any Malamute that's likely very minute as well. Has he got the stand up curled tail? That's another gene that's very strong in Akita's and Malamutes I think as well. Huskies can have a droopy tail or a stand up curled one though I don't know if that's true for the Siberian Husky.

I'd say Shepherd and Husky. Huskies don't necessarily have a distinctive white mask. Their whole face, neck and even ears can be white. Only the Siberian Husky is an actual breed anyway. The more typical Alaskan Husky isn't an actual breed since there's no distinctive breed specs and they aren't classified as a breed by any dog breed association. So, he could have Husky but just not Siberian Husky.

Whatever he is, the Shepherd traits are definitely strongest in his looks. He's quite a handsome beastie regardless of what breeds he's mixed with. And I like the name Chief. It's a good name for him.

13. Upon further looks at Akita pictures, I agree

Akitas seem to have much stouter snouts (say that three times fast) and bodies. I guess it was the coloration around the face and ears that made be think he could be part Akita.
He does have an upwards/curling tail.

21. American type Akitas have the black mask

The Japanese type have the white mask only if they have the red coat. The only acceptable standards for the Japanese Akita is red with the white mask, brindle (no mask) and pure white (no mask). Reds are by far more common than either the brindle or the white since those are rather rare anomolies.... something like one in a thousand for brindles. Personally, I hate the brindle coat on an Akita. Brindles look great on very short haired dogs of all breeds, but it just looks messy on a bushy haired dog.

Chief doesn't actually have a white mask. He's just got a lot of white all over. It's only considered a mask if it's only on the face while the rest of the head and neck is a different color.

35. Welcome to DU, xxxuntameablexxx

You can upload a picture from your PC to a photo hosting site such as PhotoBucket, which is what I use. They've changed the appearance and usage of their site recently, and not everyone likes it. After you have uploaded a picture, you can click on it and select one of several options. Choose 'Direct link', and it will copy the address of your pic to your clipboard. Then just paste it into your post here or elsewhere.

The vet, who had worked previously at a wolf hybrid site, told me he believes Chief has at least some 'Canid', whether wolf or coyote.

16. I have no idea..

17. He looks like a wonderful companion and pet with incredibly kind intelligence

Which is true of all the breeds you mentioned, including wolves.

I would just consider myself blessed to be his parents, and leave it at that.

I hope he fattens up after a year or so in your loving home - it looks like he needs some good feeding

All of my pets have come from the shelter - we are on our 6th. We find they make incredibly good pets. They are so gentle and grateful. Many have had very hard lives prior to our home.

They suffer from emotional as well as physical repercussions - of our 4 pets, we have one that cowers at rainstorms, one that overeats after several years (still can't believe she won't be hungry again despite our many plates of food), and another that has had a consistent respiratory "shelter syndrome" for over 10 years.

Please be kind to your special friend, and view him as more than a conglomerate of genes - as I know you will!

18. I hope it didn't appear that I value him only because of genes or pedigree

He is a very striking dog and the pictures only hint at that. I was curious as to what breeds may have combined to yield such an appearance, that's all.

All but one of our dogs have been shelter rescues as well. Our last was a Chesapeake Bay Retriever who loved being vacuumed, hosed down, fed tomatoes, and fetching tennis balls (!!). She warbled for us when we came in the door or when she wanted her dinner, sometimes almost yodeling. And she wreaked havoc during thunder storms or fireworks. And we loved her dearly.

Our two newest additions have no fear of fireworks so far. They're walking better with each other every day and I'm sure will be fast friends for life.

24. Thanks for the kind welcome

No, I didn't think that at all!

First of all, thank you for the kind welcome!

And second - I always try to take any opportunity I can to share with people my experience, as a 20+ year pet owner, about how emotionally sensitive our pets are - just in case I'm talking to a new pet owner.

Enjoy your new companion, and I think he sounds very lucky to have you.

23. all three of my Akitas had/have a tongue spot

In both the last one, Boo, and Yoshi who I have now it is/was far back on the tongue and you can only really see it if you stick your head in there when they yawn really big. Yoshi's is a little off to the left rather than dead center though... sometimes I get the urge to grab a magic marker and paint more on the right side so it's more centered. I like things to be even/level/straight... a crooked picture on the wall can make me nuts, and I HAVE to fix it. In my first Akita it was dead center front to back and side to side and almost perfectly round. I jokingly referred to it as his panic button.

I rather like the tongue spot. I think of it as sort of an identifying birthmark or something like that.

27. Not very common and we'd never heard of them either, but figured out ours was a Jindo b/c we saw

a picture of a dog that looked just like him on the website of a local shelter (not the one we got him from) a couple of months after we adopted him.

Coincidentally, there is a house about 2 miles from us that has what we are SURE is a white Jindo running around their yard. We live far from any major urban area, so they are at least common enough for there to be three w/in a few miles of us. Search "Jindo" on youtube and you'll find lots of entries.. many in Korean but lots and lots uploaded from the US too.

Our obedience school instructor had heard of them but, FWIW, she moved here from Chicago.

The white Jindos seem more widespread and "Americanized" (bigger) than the other colors... possibly b/c they were the most prized in Korea and therefore most likely to be smuggled here.

As to jaw strength, Jindos exert 1200lbs of "bite pressure" (i.e 300lbs MORE than a German Shepherd) so you might want to invest in some "extreme chewer"-approved toys. The black Kong is abut the only thing mine hasn't managed to rip apart, but he can actually get it pretty close to flattened when he's on a chewing tear.

If your fellow is a Shepherd/Jindo, I expect he'll be loyal, brave and extremely entertaining.

So far, mine has never managed to climb up on our roof:

but he did run across the thin back of the sofa once and launch himself halfway down the steps from there, so I'm betting his "cat-like agility" could get him up there if we gave him half a chance.

29. He's beautiful

I don't see wolf, I see a LOT of German Shepherd, maybe some Husky or Akita. He is absolutely gorgeous though! People who think they see "wolf" are really just seeing a German Shepherd build in white and thinking "white wolf", I'd bet.

I've seen a German Shepherd/wolf hybrid before, there is a local gentleman who rescued one, the dog has feet like platters. He's beautiful and friendly but looks quite a lot bigger and with a more rugged build than your dog. Your dog's shape and size reminds me of my friend's young male shepherd.

30. Beautiful boy. Unusual coloring.

31. teeth

I have a dog that looks very similar to yours....(has the same name even)...he was a humane society surrender years back from a party that had been known to be crossing sheperd/huskies with wolf.
Take a look at his top canines...a sure sign of wolf in your dog is if the top canines are unusually long and curvered towards the back.

Also. your guy here has the same long legs and large feet that are trade mark of the wolf lineage along with the very brown eyes.

32. Welcome to the DU!

38. ??

While he could be part wolf, I don't personally see it. Your own guess sounds better to me. Some people are so wolf-phobic that any large canine they can possibly call a wolf will be called one.

Not that I see it as a drawback except for the animal's own safety. Way out in the boonies a neighbor had a verified wolf-Great Dane hybrid that came to visit regularly. He could just about step over the 4-ft fence I put up around the house, encompassing an acre so my female chows could run. Often he'd show up after dark when we were out after the desert heat went down. He tended to announce himself with a cold nose thrust in my hand or at my elbow. But his spirit was so gentle that he never alarmed me, and living alone I could be jumpy even with the chows on guard.